Dan Rutherford

Bill Brady - Bruce Rauner - Chicago - Dan Rutherford - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Kirk Dillard - Republicans - Senate - Warner Todd Huston

Ill GOP Gov Poll: Rauner Still Leading, Dillard Takes Second Place

February 26, 2014 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The folks at Champion News has the results of a new poll that shows that race for the GOP nomination for Governor has tightened a little and a new candidate has stormed into second place.

Conservative businessman Bruce Rauner is still in the lead, but his numbers have dropped to 18 percent. This is to be expected as we get closer to primary Election Day.

But the more interesting aspect of this poll is that State Senator Kirk Dillard has stormed into second place while State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, the former number two man, has fallen to the bottom of the pack.

The poll gives Rauner a big lead at 35.6 percent. But Dillard has come from last place to second with 17.25 percent of the vote. Then, taking up a perennial third place, State Senator Bill Brady garnered 12.8 percent of the vote.
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Ill GOP Gov Poll: Rauner Still Leading, Dillard Takes Second Place”

Bill Brady - Bruce Rauner - Budget - Conservatives - Dan Rutherford - Elections - GOP - Government - Government, Ill. County - Kirk Dillard - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Some Sparks At WLS GOP Governor Debate

February 11, 2014 by

-By Warner Todd Huston


The debate stage.

Tonight, February 10, WLS AM 89 talk radio, hosted a debate of what was supposed to be all four candidates vying for the GOP nomination for governor. Unfortunately, only three decided to accept the invitation to join the debate. Candidate Rauner decided not to speak to the six or seven hundred locals nor the WLS radio audience.


Snub: Bruce Rauner’s empty poduum.

In attendance were State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, and State Senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard. Not in attendance< was businessman Bruce Rauner. WLS talk show host Dan Proft moderated. I have to say, most of what what was said by the candidates was run of the mill stuff they've all said 100 times before--and for some over several losing campaigns for the same office. But a few sparks did fly, one over a new issue and another over an old.


Rutherford and Brady sharing a laugh before the debate.

Firstly, though the biggest disappointment of the night was that all three candidates denounced Illinois being a right to work state and all dismissed the idea that the union should be limited in the Land of Lincoln. But since most are taking big donations from the union, I guess that shouldn’t be a surprise.

But the fact is, every Republican should be an opponent of government employee unions.
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Some Sparks At WLS GOP Governor Debate”

Bruce Rauner - Chicago - Dan Rutherford - Elections - Government - Government, Ill. County - Illinois - Warner Todd Huston

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Public Statement on Upcoming Charges

January 31, 2014 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Today, Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford has come out to charge that operatives of rival GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner is trying to smear him. Rutherford says he is being extorted by an attorney connected to Bruce Rauner who is representing someone who plans to make some sort of harassment charge against the Treasurer.

The thus far unnamed person is apparently an employee of the Illinois Department of the Treasury. Rutherford claims that he was contacted by an attorney who works (or has worked) for Rauner and that attorney said that if Rutherford pays his publicly unnamed client $300,000, no charges will be filed.

Rutherford says that Rauner is initiating a shake down effort and attempting to hurt Rutherford’s campaign for Governor.

Now, Rutherford has put out an official statement about this issue:
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State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Public Statement on Upcoming Charges”

Bill Brady - Chicago - Conservatives - Dan Rutherford - Ethics - GOP - Government - Illinois State Government - Kirk Dillard - Republicans - Warner Todd Huston

Proft Says No Connection Between PAC and Anti-Rauner Group as Rauner Takes Hits for Flip Flop

January 11, 2014 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The good folks at Illinois Review recently reported that a large donation to Liberty Principles PAC–a group helmed by WLS talk show host Dan Proft–caused rumors to circulate that claimed that the $1.5 million donation was in response recent anti-Rauner ads being funded by a pro-union group and headed up by a one of GOP Congressman Arron Schock’s associates. Tonight, Proft is responding to the rumors.

Proft told IR that the donation by Dick Uihlein is earmarked only for state legislative races, not federal races, not the Governor’s office or other top spots. So, the donation is not intended to help get Rauner elected through efforts by Proft’s PAC.

As Proft told IR: “The investment represents Mr. Uihlein’s ongoing commitment to the economic liberty policy agenda and to Illinois state legislative candidates who share that commitment. Mr. Uihlein’s financial commitment is shared by a growing number of Liberty Principles PAC donors who understand the need for new political leadership in Springfield in order for Illinois to attract and retain businesses and grow jobs.”
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Proft Says No Connection Between PAC and Anti-Rauner Group as Rauner Takes Hits for Flip Flop”

Aaron Schock - Adam Kinzinger - Bobby Schilling - Congress - Conservatives - Dan Patlak - Dan Rutherford - Democracy - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Joe Walsh - Judy Baar-Topinka - Liberals - Mitt Romney - Pat Brady - Peter Roskam - Politicians Illinois - President - Randy Hultgren - Republicans - SB600 - Senate - State Central Committee - Steve Rauschenberger - Tom Cross - United Republican Fund - Warner Todd Huston

What Happened at the Illinois GOP Convention? Mostly Status Quo, But…

June 10, 2012 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

The Illinois Republican Party held its 2012 Party Convention this weekend. On the docket was addressing some asked for rules changes and picking a slate of delegates to the GOP national convention to nominate Mitt Romney to carry the Party’s banner in the upcoming presidential election. My ultimate analysis is that this was a status quo convention, but signs show that the status quo might not be too long for this world.

Two things first, here. One, I have to state up front that I intended to be a delegate from my district at the Illinois GOP convention. I registered as such and was accepted by my man Tim Schneider of the Hanover Republicans, but forces outside of politics (in other words, real life) prevented me from participating to the fullest extent. Regardless, I wanted to let you know of my intentions upfront so that you can see that I am not just a disinterested bystander in this deal.

Two, if you want a blow-by-blow account of the many great speeches, see Cal Skinner’s report at McHenry County Blog. I will mention a few things, but won’t do the speech-by-speech analysis. Skinner covered that very well so I don’t feel the need to cover that ground again.


Rep. Aaron Schock plies the crowd after his address

Now, The single most controversial issue that was on the docket was the decision to initiate direct elections. For instance, there are many Republicans who want to change how the members of the State Central Committee are selected. Currently they are appointed by the committeemen but many voices in the party want to change that. They want these party leaders to stand for election (like the Democrats do, incidentally) instead of being appointed by the votes of the committeemen. This issue has been in debate throughout the state for several years already and I’ve covered that debate many times. (Check my out old coverage of SB600 using the search feature)

I am told that several attempts were made by various committeemen to get this issue its due during Friday’s Committee meetings. The issue failed in committee on Friday, but a spirited debate continued that afternoon, anyway. Ultimately, John Parrot of Congressional District 15 attempted to get the direct elections issue brought to the convention floor on Saturday for discussion and a vote as a separate issue. Instead party leaders decided to allow a “yea” or “nay” vote on Saturday.
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What Happened at the Illinois GOP Convention? Mostly Status Quo, But…”

Budget - Chicago - Dan Rutherford - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Ethics - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Nanny State - Pat Brady - Pat Quinn - Republicans - Senate - Taxes - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Budget Deficit: Worst of the Worst

August 1, 2011 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

Illinois ended 2010 as the most indebted state in the union. Sadly, not a thing has been done so far in 2011 to make it better. Instead, it will get worse.

As State House News reports, the state rings in at number 50 in the nation’s most broke states.

Illinois owed $37.9 billion more than all of its assets combined, including cash, investments and property, as of July 1, 2010, according to a recent statewide financial audit by the Illinois Auditor General William Holland and Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.

So far and just like the states unpaid vendors, even taxpayers expecting refunds got stiffed because the state somehow forgot to put $1.4 billion in the refund fund for taxpayers that overpaid their taxes. Now those awaiting refunds will have to wait.
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Illinois Budget Deficit: Worst of the Worst”

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Dan Rutherford - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Fox News - GOP - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Republicans - Tom Cross - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois State Legislators Try to Explain to Fox Business Network Why Ill. Is Going Bankrupt

May 27, 2011 by

FOX Business Network (FBN) has been airing a series called, “Entitlement Nation: Makers vs. Takers.” The last episode will feature a special focus on two of the biggest entitlement programs in the country: Social Security and Medicare.

FBN will interview Illinois House GOP leader Tom Cross and State Treasurer Dan Rutherford to examine how entitlements have affected the Land of Lincoln… I’ll answer that, by the way: badly.

When: Friday, May 27th, 2011; 11 AM/ET
Where: FOX Business Network (FBN)

(AT&T, Channel 211; DISH, Channel 206; DIRECTV, Channel 259)

Budget - Chicago - Conservatives - Dan Rutherford - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - GOP - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Republicans - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Will Illinois Be America’s Greece?

May 25, 2011 by

The chief fiscal officer of tax-and-spend Illinois is preparing to warn lenders that allowing it to borrow any more money would be a major risk. Will his be the first state to go bankrupt?

Treasurer Dan Rutherford is a Republican in a very blue state, and the usual critics will say his warning is political grandstanding. We think the guy who counts Illinois’ money has simply embraced fiscal reality and sanity in shouting from the financial rooftops: “Don’t help us anymore; we can’t afford it.”

Rutherford on Monday said the state was in a deep hole and needed to stop digging and that he was willing to contact all the major bond houses and warn them that lending Illinois more money would be a “major risk.”

“If I need to send letters to the rating companies to tell them the treasurer of Illinois is opposed to more borrowing, I’m going to do it,” Rutherford said. “We need to cut our spending and break our unsustainable borrowing cycle before we realize a further financial disaster.”…

Read the rest at Investors.com.